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Death

The life of a Hunter is fraught with danger and the looming threat of death. When a Hunter's HP reaches 0, they are Downed. They fall unconscious, cannot move, cannot act, and cannot take reactions. Being Downed is not the same as being dead, but it puts a Hunter at the mercy of the room.

Death Rolls​

A Downed Hunter makes a death roll in two situations:

  • At the end of each of their turns while they remain Downed
  • Each time damage or a hostile effect hits them while they are Downed

A death roll is 2_ON_D10 with no modifiers, edge, or setbacks. On an 11 or higher, the Hunter clings to life. On a 10 or lower, they gain a death mark. At three death marks, the Hunter dies. Death marks clear when the Hunter is stabilized or restored above 0 HP.

Formula

Roll 2_ON_D10 with no additions

  • 11 or Higher: You hold on.
  • 10 or Lower: You gain 1 death mark.
  • 3 Death Marks: Death claims your Hunter.

Stabilization​

A creature adjacent to a Downed Hunter can use an action to attempt stabilization. This requires medical tools, an appropriate ability, a healing item, or a desperate Intellect check with a difficulty threshold of 15. A successful stabilization clears the Hunter's death marks and restores them to 1 HP. A failed attempt does not add a death mark, but it costs precious time.

A Downed Hunter who receives healing immediately clears their death marks and returns to consciousness with the HP restored by that healing.

Lethal Damage​

There are times when death is swift and certain. If a Hunter takes damage equal to or greater than their maximum HP from a single source after reductions, they die instantly. No roll or stabilization attempt can prevent this unless an ability, artifact, or explicit story rule says otherwise.

The Final Stand​

In Obscured, even death offers a flicker of agency. When your Hunter dies, they are granted a Final Roll. This is a single roll, using an appropriate attribute and a difficulty target set by the Overseer. With a success, you momentarily regain consciousness and gain one action. You might unleash one final ability, deliver a final blow, destroy a clue before the Horror can claim it, or pass something vital to another Hunter.

Example

Overseer: "David, the Horror slashes at you with its spectral blade, dealing 10 damage."

David: "That's all my HP. I'm Downed."

Overseer: "And the Horror isn't finished. It attacks again while you're down, so make a death roll."

David: rolls dice "An 8. That's one death mark."

Amy: "I'm getting to him. John, keep that thing off me."

John: "Amy, I was born to make bad decisions in a hurry. I got this."

Overseer: "Amy reaches David and uses her action to stabilize him. Give me an Intellect check."

Amy: rolls dice "Sixteen."

Overseer: "A minor miracle. You stop the bleeding and force him back to consciousness with 1 HP. David, your death mark clears, but you wake up tasting copper and hearing the thing turn around."